The Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) defeated the Texas A&M Aggies (17-14), handing them their first defeat of the year at Kyle Field.
Here are five lessons learned from the defeat:
Lackluster offense
The Aggies’ offence on Saturday wasn’t that impressive. The team made only 104 yards and 20 plays in the first half. Four of A&M’s five third-down conversion attempts over the opening two quarters were unsuccessful. In addition, the Mountaineers converted 11 first downs before halftime, while the Aggies only managed to secure four.
The Aggies’ run game was nonexistent once more. The first half saw just three carries for 30 yards for running back Devon Achane. For comparison, quarterback Haynes King gained 30 yards on the ground in the same time frame. Even though Achane could get loose and score a touchdown in the second quarter, it wasn’t sufficient for this offence.
After App State scored following A&M’s turnover, Achane returned a kickoff for a touchdown of 95 yards. A&M didn’t score again for the rest of the game after that.
The offence must quickly develop its game plans because more significant and more formidable opponents are coming. Teams do not win games by holding out until the end or scoring in response to an attack rather than going on the offensive. Fisher and the coaching staff have a difficult task, but the offence requires changes immediately.
Offensive line struggles
The lack of opportunity for King to make a pass was one of the most apparent aspects of the game on Saturday. King was under extreme pressure from Appalachian State’s defence, and it appeared that the offensive line couldn’t handle it because he was sacked twice in the first half.
The offensive line is undoubtedly feeling the loss of centre Bryce Foster. While Matthew Wykoff has temporarily filled Foster’s spot, there is no telling how long this will last, given that there is no accurate timetable for his return to the field. Now, the O-line is not made or broken by a single player. As the season progresses, the offensive line must grow more robust and resilient. If not, it will be complicated for King or any quarterback to perform to their full potential because they will constantly be concerned about being sacked or pressured. Things only appear to be looking good for the Aggies in the future if the offensive line improves.
Out of the three fourth-down conversions throughout the first half, Appalachian State was successful on two of them. The Mountaineers’ attack was complex for to get off the field for the defence. Appalachian State had 80 offensive plays, while A&M had 38 in the contest.
The situation didn’t improve as the defence squandered chances to stop the Mountaineers in their tracks. After recovering both fumbles, A&M conceded scores on both possessions. This can’t continue during the season because errors need to be fixed, and opponents must not profit from them. When the offence isn’t doing well, the defence must devise a strategy to prevent opponents from scoring.
QB1 is still inconsistent
King once more fell short of demonstrating his potential as A&M’s starting quarterback. He completed 6-of-10 passes for 46 yards in the opening period. As a dual-style quarterback, King frequently missed the open space offered to him throughout the first half. The sophomore must be able to read the defence and advance the ball effectively.
The Longview, Texas native’s performance didn’t improve in the second half. Only 97 throwing yards and 23 rushing yards were his final totals. King had mediocre chances during his limited time on the field. A punt and fumble resulted from the second half’s opening two drives.
Penalties and turnovers bite A&M
The Aggies committed penalties totalling 41 yards during the first half alone and made a mistake. As a result, the offence could not advance down the field, damaging its success. There were three turnovers throughout the first half, but the Mountaineers only managed to recover one before scoring.
The Aggies fumbled again, and the Mountaineers recovered, even though the penalties had somewhat subsided by the start of the second half. The Mountaineers were able to profit from the fumble recovery and, after an 11-play drive covering 62 yards, got back into the end zone to take the lead. The offence’s turnover rate directly correlates to how many opportunities the opposition has to score. In conclusion, A&M must straighten out its activities as soon as possible if it hopes to bounce back and have a successful season.
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